Leavenworth City Council tackles peddling, housing, and animal control in busy November meeting

LEAVENWORTH – Leavenworth City Council tackled a packed agenda before the holiday on Nov. 26. Highlights from the meeting include peddler enforcement, unit lot subdivision, increased animal control, and more.

The City Council considered adopting proposed amendments to Leavenworth Municipal Code 5.21, Transient Businesses, to prohibit peddling within the city limits. The city has received a number of complaints from downtown business owners and visitors about peddlers. 

Current code allows for peddlers to operate under a permit from the city only in residential areas. However, the city has struggled to enforce permit acquisition as well as restricting peddling downtown. Additionally, city staff stated that peddlers selling downtown retreat to residential streets when enforcement nears, and use their residential peddler permit as plausible deniability. Restricting peddling altogether would make it easier for the Sheriff’s Office to enforce the law.

“If we deny them the opportunity to get this permit, it allows enforcement to essentially call their bluff even if they are on Center Street,” said Councilmember Clint Strand.

From the audience, resident Ron Duncan asked the City Council to consider exceptions for kids who may be peddling by definition when selling fundraiser items such as cookies or nuts door to door. Members of the council agreed.

“The enforcement of it is not going to get easier by getting rid of the peddler permit, and it might cause issues…Somebody could say ‘Why don’t you apply the permit law to these kids?’” said City Councilmember Mike Bedard.

The city council chose to have city staff redraft a code amendment to make exceptions for fundraisers held by nonprofits and school districts.

Following the peddling conversation, the city council chose to adopt unit lot subdivision in all zoning districts, which allows for the creation of smaller individual lots within a larger "parent parcel.” Unit lot subdivision was on the Planning Commission’s 2024 Docket as an option intended to allow more flexible creation of lots of varying sizes and types.

It also approved a three-year animal control services agreement with Wenatchee Valley Animal Care and Control (WVAC) in order to address the management of stray and sick animals and respond to complaints related to dog attacks, animal cruelty, and handling deceased animals on public property.  WVAC will not manage issues related to barking dogs, wildlife, or animals on private property.

Lastly, the City Council voted to deny a vacation request for a portion of 13th Street abutting property at 1221 Commercial Street. The request was made for the purposes of adding up to two small cottage homes and making the space firewise. However, a Nov. 12 public hearing had a number of nearby residents wanting to preserve the greenspace near a public trail.  

“Let’s make something with it, not just let it sit there,” said Councilmember Zeke Reister, suggesting a pocket park.

The city council also approved a condemnation of a portion of 225 Prospect Street acquire the sanitary sewer easement, a Commercial Street Pedestrian Guardrail project bid award, an engineering contract for the Water System Backup Generators project, and a consultant agreement for the Ski Hill Drive Active Transportation Improvements Phase 2 project.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Dec.10. The meeting will hold a public hearing for the Local Project Review Act. The city must update its review process to comply with changes introduced by Senate Bill 5290, which aims to make local project reviews faster and more predictable.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media